Apparatus for transversely sealing packages

Abstract

The invention relates to an apparatus for transversely sealing packages in which transverse seals are applied to a continuous length of tubular member, in a direction transverse to the length thereof when the tubular member contains a filling such as beverage, whereby an enclosed package is formed between adjacent transverse seals. A plurality of carrier means which operate to hold the tubular member and apply transverse seals is disposed around a rotatable body which is adapted to be continuously driven for rotation. Each of the carrier means includes an inner mold and an outer mold which are disposed inward and outward as viewed in the radial direction of the rotatable body, and the outer mold can be closed against the inner mold or moved to its open position. The tubular member is continuously supplied to the inner mold in the open position of the outer mold, and a transverse seal is applied thereto while it is held between the inner mold and the outer mold. The tubular member is then removed out of the inner mold when the outer mold assumes its open position. In this manner, a high speed operation is enabled while assuring a sufficient length of time during which the tubular member is held in the carrier means to apply a transverse seal in accordance with a printed pattern on the member in a reliable manner.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages comprising a rotatable body adapted to be continuously driven for rotation, a plurality of carrier means disposed in spaced relationship around the periphery of the rotatable body and each including an inner mold and an outer mold which are located inward and outward, respectively, as viewed in the radial direction of the rotatable body, drive means for urging the outer mold against the inner mold and for moving the outer mold to its open position which is laterally offset, as viewed in the direction of rotation, from its position where it is located radially opposite to the inner mold, a tubular member containing a filling therein being supplied to the inner mold when the outer mold is in its open position and being held between the inner mold and the outer mold which is then urged against the inner mold, a transverse seal being applied to the tubular member in a direction transverse to the direction in which it is conveyed during the time the tubular member is held between the inner and the outer mold to thereby define an enclosed package between adjacent transverse seals, the enclosed package being removed out of the inner mold in the open position of the outer mold, the carrier means being movable back and forth, as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotatable body, and a transverse seal positioning mechanism which causes the individual carrier means to be displaced in the direction of rotation to adjust a spacing between adjacent carrier means, in which the transverse seal positioning mechanism comprises a cam member associated with each of the carrier means and operative to cause the associated carrier means to be displaced in the direction of rotation of the rotatable body in accordance with an angular position which it assumes, a cam follower coupled with the cam member to cause an angular movement thereof, a rocking cam member disposed outside the rotatable body and engageable with the cam follower as it is moved by the rotation of the rotatable member to cause a displacement of the cam follower in the radial direction of the rotatable body which in turn causes an angular movement of the cam member, and driving means for rocking cam member in the radial direction of the rotatable body to adjust a radial displacement of the cam follower, thereby adjusting the amount of angular movement of the cam member. 
     
     
       2. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages as defined in claim 1 in which the drive means comprises a roller on the outer mold, and a twisted guide groove which is engaged by the roller, the twisted guide groove being generally annular in configuration and extending along the periphery of the rotatable body, the twisted guide groove including a nontwisted section where the roller is effective to urge the outer mold against the inner mold and a twisted section where the outer mold is moved away from the inner mold. 
     
     
       3. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages as defined in claim 1 in which the drive means comprises a roller slidably mounted on the outer mold so as to be movable radially outward, a spring interposed between the roller and the outer mold, and a pressing cam member for engaging the roller to urge it radially inward when the outer mold is closed against the inner mold. 
     
     
       4. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages as defined in claim 1 in which each of the outer mold and the inner mold is formed with a sealing projection between which the tubular member is held, the projection extending in a direction in which the transverse seal is to be applied. 
     
     
       5. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages as defined in claim 1 in which each of the outer mold and the inner mold is formed with a recess of a given volume, the front and rear sides of the recess, as viewed in the direction of rotation, being formed as transverse sealing surfaces. 
     
     
       6. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages as defined in claim 1, further including a return cam member for returning the cam follower which has been displaced by the rocking cam member to its original position. 
     
     
       7. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages comprising a rotatable body adapted to be continuously driven for rotation, a plurality of carrier means disposed in spaced relationship around the periphery of the rotatable body and each including an inner mold and an outer mold which are located inward and outward, respectively, as viewed in the radial direction of the rotatable body, drive means for urging the outer mold against the inner mold and for moving the outer mold to its open position which is laterally offset, as viewed in the direction of rotation, from its position where it is located radially opposite to the inner mold, a tubular member containing a filling therein being supplied to the inner mold when the outer mold is in its open position and being held between the inner mold and the outer mold which is then urged against the inner mold, a transverse seal being applied to the tubular member in a direction transverse to the direction in which it is conveyed during the time the tubular member is held between the inner and the outer mold to thereby define an enclosed package between adjacent transverse seals, the enclosed package being removed out of the inner mold in the open position of the outer mold, each of the carrier means being movable back and forth in the radial direction of the rotatable body, a transverse seal positioning mechanism for causing a radial displacement of the individual carrier means to adjust a spacing between adjacent carrier means, in which the transverse seal positioning mechanism comprises a cam member associated with each of the carrier means for causing the associated carrier means to be displaced in the radial direction of the rotatable body in accordance with an angular position which it assumes, a cam follower mechanically coupled to the cam member to cause an angular movement thereof, a rocking cam member disposed outside the rotatable body and engageable with the cam follower as it moves during the rotation of the rotatable member to cause a displacement of the cam follower in the radial direction of the rotatable body which in turn causes an angular movement of the cam member, and driving means for rocking the rocking cam member in the radial direction of the rotatable body to adjust a radial displacement of the cam follower, thereby adjusting the amount of angular movement of the cam member. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages as defined in claim 7 in which the drive means comprises a roller slidably mounted on the outer mold so as to be movable radially outward, a spring interposed between the roller and the outer mold, and a pressing cam member for engaging the roller to urge it radially inward when the outer mold is closed against the inner mold. 
     
     
       9. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages as defined in claim 7 in which the rocking cam member includes a cam groove having a width which is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the cam follower at its and which is located forwardly as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotatable body and which is radially increased at its end which is located rearward as viewed in the direction of rotation of the rotatable body to permit the cam follower which has been radially displaced by the rocking motion of the rocking cam member to engage the cam groove. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages as defined in claim 7 in which each of the outer mold and the inner mold is formed with a sealing projection between which the tubular member is held, the projection extending in a direction in which the transverse seal is to be applied. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages as defined in claim 7 in which each of the outer mold and the inner mold is formed with a recess of a given volume, the front and rear sides of the recess, as viewed in the direction of rotation, being formed as transverse sealing surfaces. 
     
     
       12. An apparatus for transversely sealing packages as defined in claim 7, in which the drive means comprises a roller on the outer mold, and a twisted guide groove which is engaged by the roller, the twisted guide groove being generally annular in configuration and extending along the periphery of the rotatable body, the twisted guide groove including a non-twisted section where the roller is effective to urge the outer mold against the inner mold and a twisted section where the outer mold is moved away from the inner mold.